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The Agricultural Chamber of the East (CAO) affirmed this Wednesday that the lower production of corn is a consequence of the restriction on exports, which the Government has implemented since 2011, in addition to the low level of yield of non-transgenic seeds.
“Corn production began to decline in 2011, when restrictions on exports were applied, the fall became stronger as of 2018. From the beginning we alerted the authorities on duty that these measures would generate shortages in the long term,” notes a statement from the CAO.
Another cause is the low level of yield of conventional, non-transgenic seeds, which means that the cultivated area is increasingly smaller, speculation increases and the cost of corn increases in the domestic market.
Given this, the producing sector demands that the Government immediately release genetically modified events used and approved in the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).
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“The use of biotechnology will increase productivity without increasing the cultivated area, reduce production costs and reduce the cost of selling hard yellow corn. After the above, it is noted that the production of this grain will continue to decrease, because non-transgenic seeds, used today, tend to disappear from international markets”, warns a press release.
Another of the proposals is that corn be imported immediately, to cover the current shortage; that Emapa complies with the allocation of corn based on the amount accepted and registered by each producer without imposing a cap of 30 tons on the general allocation.
The CAO reported that 98% of the hard yellow corn produced in Bolivia is for animal consumption, but in the absence of this vital input, the short-term outcome can cause a shortage of pork, chicken, eggs and milk. .
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The negative effects will affect 17,000 producers in danger of closing and thousands of sources of employment. The most serious impact will be the blow to the food security of Bolivian families, especially those with lower incomes, due to the rise in prices of the aforementioned foods.
Given the delicate situation, the agricultural sector requests a meeting for Thursday, April 14, at the CAO facilities in Santa Cruz, where they invite the authorities of the Ministries of Rural Development and Productive Development.
According to official data, Bolivia produces one million metric tons a year, of which the demand in the domestic market exceeds 1.3 million, which means that there is a deficit of 300,000 tons.
